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E. W. DURAND.

CRATE FOR FRUIT.

No. 257,482. Patented May 9,1882.

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CRATE FOR FRUIT.

No. 257,482. Patented May 9,1882.

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ELIAS W. DURAND, OF IRVINGTON, NEW JERSEY.

CRATE FOR FRUIT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 257,482, dated May 9, 1882.

Application filed July 8, 1881.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELIAS WADE DURAND, of Irvington, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Grates or Carriers for Fruit, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, making a partof this specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a crate or carrier for fruit, well ventilated, light, strong, durable, and inexpensive,in which all the parts are united and held together in one package, and so arranged as to open and close in the most simple and direct way, either to receive or display the fruit, and when open that all the baskets of fruit are at once fully disclosed, ready for inspection or removal. The crate or carrier being thus connected together in one package is less liable to loss or breakage, as a whole or in any of its parts, and is always ready for immediate use and transportation.

The nature of my invention consists in the use of a revolving platform or a revolving trayplatform adjusted to revolve or turn in the crate or carrier on a rod secured in a perpendicular position in the center of the-crate or carrier, or on pivots, as may prove most advantageous, the said platforms to be one or more, and in any appropriate position as to elevation in the crate or carrier, and adjusted to turn when the vertical hinged slats or front lid and vertical pivoted slat or back lid ofthe crate or carrier are open 5 or, in case a trayplatform only is employed, as hereinafter described, the said vertical front and back lids are dispensed with, the whole constituting a new device of its class, denominated by me a revolving crate or carrier.

In the drawings the samelettersindicatelike parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a front perspective view of the revolving crate or carrier, with the top lid, 1), and vertical hinged slats or front lid, J, and vertical pivoted slat orb-ack lid, F, open, showing the upper permanent or stationary plat form, and the revolving platform Xpartly turned, and exhibiting the basketsss of fruit, the central rod being shown at B.

Fig. 2 isa perspective view of the crate or (Nomodcl) carrier closed, containing a bottom tier of baskets, 88, and showing, as in Fig. 1, the stationary platform W, the revolving platform X, the central rod, It, the sliding rods n n, to which the handleA is attached, and by which it is elevated or depressed as the rods n n are slid up or down through the upper permanent crosspiece, H; also, the small lid E to close the aperture 13 in the lid 1) when the handle A is pressed down in contact with the crossbar I-I.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the back of the crate or carrier, with the top lid, 1), vertical hinged slats or front lid, J, and vertical pivoted slat or back lid, F, open, showing the central platform, X, on the rod R partly revolved, the handle A depressed, and the narrow slot B in the lid D to close over the handle when the same is depressed, as in the figure, and the lid is closed.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the crate or carrier closed, showing the central rod, R, and having the central revolving platform constructed in such a way as to dispense with the vertical hinged slats or front lid and vertical pivoted slat or back lid, and in place thereof having the side slats m m permanently attached to the said revolvingplatform X, converting it into a tray, as shown, which, when closed, is secured in position by the hook it; also showing a flexible handle, A, attached to the permanent cross-bar H in place of the extension-handle A, Figs. 2 and 3. The bottom tier of baskets is shown at s s.

Fig. 5 is the revolving central platform, X, as in Figs. .1, 2,-and 3, but shown separate and apart from the crate or carrier, having the projection a at the ends of the bottom central slat of the said platform X to bear upon the end cross-pieces, e 0, Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, when the platform is closed within the crate or carrier, preventing the said platform from sagging at the ends from the weight of the baskets; also showing a portion of the central rod, It, upon which the platform X is adjusted to turn, said rod passing through the cross-pieces K K K, attached to the uprights h h h h.

Fi g. 6 is a perspective view of the tray-platform X, separate and apart from the crate or carrier, constructed as shown in the figure, and as shown in a closed position in the crate or carrier, Fig, 4, having a portion of the central rod, It, cross-pieces K K, projection e of the bottom central slat, and the upper side slats m at, each of the said side slats m m projecting at one of its ends on opposite sides of the tray, and having the slots 0 0 for the staple in the crate or carrier, and hooks t t to secure the tray in a closed position in the crate or carrier, as shown at t 0, Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of two revolving crates or carriers hinged together aty 3 showing the central rods, R R, and platforms X X, having a lid of double width, D, in order that when the crates or carriers are closed and secured togetherin any convenient way-by hook and staple or otherwise-the lid will cover both crates or carriers, and having on one of the crates or carriers the central projection, i, at the bottom, and on the other the recess 1;, to lock and hold the crates or carriers together when closed. The handle, flexible or otherwise, may be attached or adjusted in any convenient way to the upper permanent central cross-bars, and reached through the slot B in the lid D when the crates or carriers are closed. In this arrangement the vertical hinged slats or front lid of each crate or carrier are dispensed with, and in case the tray-platform X, Figs.4and 6, is employed in place of the platform X, the vertical pivoted slats or back lids are also dispensed with.

The immovable portions of the crate or carrier are formed of the rod R, upper platform, W, corner-posts a a, longitudinal slats b b, and end slats, c 0, bottom slats, d d, interior crosspieces, 0 e, rests g, central sectional uprights, h h, and cross-bars K K, connected thereto, cross-bar H, and flexible handle A, Fig. 4.

The movable parts of the crate or carrier are the top lid, D, Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, the lid of double width I), Fig. 7, and small lid E in the lid D, Fig. 2, vertical hinged slats or frontlid, J, Figs. 1 and 3, vertical pivoted slat or back lid, F, Figs. 1, 2, and 3, extension or sliding handle A, Figs. 2 and 3, and rods n n, attached thereto, hooks t t, Figs. 2, 3, and 4, and hooks tt, Figs. 4 and 6, and the revolving platform X, Figs. 1, 2, 3, 5, and 7, and the revolving tray-platform X, Figs. 4 and 6.

In order to secure ventilation from the bottom of the crate or carrier, the bottom, side, permanent longitudinal slats b b are made to project on their lower edges somewhat below the permanent bottom slats d d of the crate or carrier, Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, so that the crate or carrier will rest upon the edges of the bot tom slats I) b, preventing the bottom slats d d from coming in contact with the ground or floor, thus permitting free passage for the air underneath the crate or carrier and up through the same, ventilating and preserving the fruit as well from the bottom as from the sides and ends of the crate or carrier.

The cleatsff, Fig. 3, employed to strengthen the lid D, are placed as near to the ends of the lid as possible, in order that when the lid is down they may not interfere with or crush the fruit, and are chamfered on their outer sides. The tops of the upright permanent posts a a are also chamfered, as shown at v t, Fig. 3, to correspond with and meet the cleats ff when the lid is closed, thus avoiding contact either with the fruit or the baskets.

The handle A, Figs. 2 and 3, is connected to the upper permanent cross-bar H by means of the bent rod or wire a n, extending longitudinally through the handle A, and sliding up and down through the cross-bar H, the bottom ends of the wire being turned up, as shown, to prevent their being drawn through the barH when the handle is elevated, as in Fig.2. The said handle may thus be elevated or depressed at pleasure, and when depressed it is either closed in upon by the narrow aperture B in the lid D, Fig. 3, or the said aperture B, when wider, is entirely closed by means of the small lid E in the lid D, Fig. 2.

In Fig. 4 a flexible handle, A, is employed, made of leather or other flexible material, and securely tacked or riveted, as shown, upon the permanent cross-bar H, the object being that when the crates are closed and packed or stored one upon another the said handle, by reason of its flexibility, will be depressed into the slot within the lid, and will in no wise interfere with the nice adjustment and fitting of the crates or carriers together. At the same time the said handle is light and strong, not liable to disarrangement, and readily accessible when the crate or carrier is required to be handled.

In order properly to support the lid D on each side of the slot B when the flexible handle A is used and the lid is shut, it is desirable to have the cross-bar H somewhat wider than the flexible handle A, so that the lid at the slot on each side of the handle may rest on the cross-piece H, which is adjusted in the crate orcarrier on a level with the 'under side of the lid when closed.

The rod It, upon which the platform X and the tray-platform X are adjusted to move, passes, in the first instance, through the crosspieces H and K of the upper central frame, Fig. l, to which the rod is attached; thence down through the cross-pieces K K of the central frame of the revolving platform and tray-platform; thence through the u pper crosspiece K of the lower central permanent frame, one end of which cross-piece is shown in Fig. 4, and is shown in dotted lines K in Fig. 5. To this lower cross-piece the rod is also secured.

The platform X and tray-platform X are adjusted to move freely on the rod R; but it is evident that the rod may be permanently secured to the cross-pieces or frame of the platform X or tray-platform X and adjusted to turn in the cross-pieces of the permanentframes above and below 5 or the platforms or trays may be arranged in such a way as to turn upon pivots or between centers, but substantially the same in effect as if adjusted upon the rod It. The middle bottom slat of the platform X and tray-platfbrm X projects at both ends, as represented at .2, somewhat beyond the ends of the platform or tray, Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and (i. This projection z z is for the purpose of preventing the platform or tray, when in a closed position in the crate or carrier, from sagging at either end from the weight of the fruit, as when in such position the projections z 2 rest upon the permanent cross-pieces c 0. (Clearly shown in Figs.2 and 4.) The restsgg in the interior of the crate or carrier, Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, are for the purpose, in like manner, of supporting the upper permanent platform, V, and to prevent the same from sagging at the ends from the weight of the fruit, and at the same time do not interfere with the fruit or the movement of the revolving platform or tray-platform underneath.

hen the platform K, Fig. 1, is moved into position within the crate or carrier,Fig. 2, the vertical hinged slats or front lid, J, Figs. 1 and 3, may be closed and secured by the hooks shown in Fig. 3, and the vertical pivoted slat or back lid, F, Figs. 1, 2, and 3, is also closed and secured by the hook i as shown in Fig. The said vertical back slat, F, is adjusted to move 011 the pivots or pins Z 1. (Shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3.)

The permanent central framesof the crate or carrier are formed, as shown in the figures, of the uprights h h, cross-pieces H and K of the upper frame, and cross pieces K K of the lower frame, and the central frame of the revolving platform X is formed, in like manner, of the uprights h h and crosspieces K K, and the platform proper attached to the frame is formed of the side and bottom slats and end pieces plainly shown in Fig. 5.

The central frame of the revolving tray-platform X, Fig. (i, is formed of the uprights h h and cross-pieces K K, and of the side and bottom slats and end pieces, the same as the platform X,Fig. 5, but,in addition, has the end uprights and cross-pieces shown in Fig. 6, and also the upper side slats m in, each of said upper side slats projecting at one end on opposite sides, asin Fig. 4, and more plainly shown in Fig. 6. These projections, Fig.6, having the slots 0 o'therein, are for the purpose, when the tray is closed within the crate or carrier, Fig. 4, of resting on opposite sides against the corner-posts a a, the staples in the corner-posts passing through the said slots 0 0, and the tray secured in a closed position by the hook t, Fig. 4.

When the crate or carrier is open, Figs. 1. and 3, the vertical hinged slats or front lid,J, and the lid D,restin g against each other, will remain in an upright position, as in Fig.3, and the vertical pivoted slat or back lid, F, is retained in an open position by means of the hook it, (shown in dotted lines, Fig. 3,) passing behind and binding against the upper side slat b of the crate, the said hook, when the crate is closed, securing the vertical pivoted slat F in the closed position shown in Fig. 2.

When the tray-platform, Figs. 4 and 6, is employed, having the end frame shown and upper side slats m m, the use of the vertical hinged slats or front lid,J, and the vertical pivoted slat or back lid, F, Figs. 1, 2, and 3, is dispensed with, and the crate or carrier, when closed,presents the appearance shown in Fig. at.

If desired, one of the side slats m of the tray-platform K, Fig. 6, on the front side of the tray, may be dispensed with, and the vertical front slats, J, Figs. 1 and 3, must then be employed in connection with the tray-platform, in order properly to close the crate, the same as when the platform X only is used. I

What I claim as my invention is- 1. The combination, with a crate, of a horizontally-revolving platform pivoted therein, the arrangement being such that on revolving the platform it projects outside of the crate, for the purpose set forth.

2. In a crate or carrier for fruit, the combination, together with a revolving platform, of the rod It, upper permanent cross-bars H and K, and lower permanent cross-bar, K, substantially in the manner and for the purpose described.

3. In a crate or carrier for fruit, the combination of the door having the cleats f f with the corner-posts (t a, having the chamfered ends, for the purpose described.

4'. The combination of two crates together, each having a horizontally-revolving platform pivoted therein, and means for securing them together, substantially in the manner and for the purpose described.

5. The combination of the single lid 1), of double width, to cover two crates combined together, with the crates, each having a horizontally-revolving platform pivoted therein, substantially in the manner and for the purpose described.

ELIAS WADE DURAND.

Witnesses:

ABIGAIL B. ToMPK Ns, DANIEL F. ToMPKINs. 

